Sealing system for movable window of vehicular rear window assembly

ABSTRACT

A vehicular slider window assembly includes at least one fixed window panel having an opening, and upper and lower rails fixedly disposed at the at least one fixed window panel. A movable window panel is movable along the rails between a closed position and an opened position. A perimeter seal is disposed at a surface of the fixed window panel, with the perimeter seal providing a continuous sealing element that circumscribes the opening and that is configured to seal against a surface of the movable window panel when the movable window panel is closed. The perimeter seal includes elongated sealing portions having respective elongated sealing lips disposed along respective base portions. The perimeter seal is formed via a multi-shot injection molding process, with the base portions formed via a first shot injection molding process and the sealing lips formed along the base portions via a second shot injection molding process.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 62/818,139, filed Mar. 14, 2019, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a slider window assembly for a vehicleand, more particularly, a rear slider window assembly for a vehicle and,more particularly, a rear slider window assembly for a pickup truck orthe like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a slider window assembly for an opening of avehicle, such as a rear slider window assembly for a rear opening of apickup truck. Conventional slider window assemblies for rear openings oftrucks or the like typically include two or more panels, such as one ortwo fixed window panels and a slidable window panel. The slidable windowpanel is supported by rails and may be moved along the rails to open andclose the window. The slidable window panel may be manually moved or maybe driven or moved by a cable drive system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a vehicular rear slider window assemblythat has a unitarily formed perimeter seal for sealing the movablewindow panel relative to the fixed window panels when the movable windowpanel is closed. The perimeter seal comprises elongated sealing portionswith corner sealing tabs or lips molded or formed at the ends ofrespective elongated sealing portions. The perimeter seal is formed viaa multi-shot molding process. For example, the perimeter seal may beformed via a two (or more) shot molding process, with a first shot ormolding process injection molding a base portion of each sealing portionand with a second shot or molding process injection molding at least onesealing lip along the respective base portion of each sealing portion.The perimeter seal also comprises corner sealing elements molded at andjoining the adjacent ends of some of the sealing lips. The perimeterseal also includes other corner sealing elements molded at and extendingfrom a respective end of a sealing lip and spaced from an adjacent endof another sealing lip, with a flexible seal element joining the cornersealing element with the adjacent sealing lip to allow for flexing ofthe sealing lips at the corner region.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a pickup truck having a rear sliderwindow assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear slider window assembly;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the rear slider window assembly;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a perimeter seal for the sealing themovable window panel a the window assembly when in its closed position;

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the perimeter seal;

FIG. 6 is an opposite perspective view of the perimeter seal;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the perimeter seal;

FIG. 7A is a sectional view of the perimeter seal and window taken alongthe line A-A in FIG. 7;

FIG. 7B is a sectional view of the perimeter seal and window taken alongthe line B-B in FIG. 7;

FIG. 7C is a sectional view of the perimeter seal and window taken alongthe line C-C in FIG. 7;

FIG. 7D is a sectional view of the perimeter seal and window taken alongthe line D-D in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a corner region of the perimeter seal,showing the curved sealing lip that extends from the vertical sealinglip and partially along the upper sealing lip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, a rear slider window assembly 10 of a vehicle 12 (such as apickup truck or the like) includes a fixed window panel 16 (or a pair ofside fixed window panels or fixed window panel portions) having anopening established therethrough, and a movable window panel 20 that ismovable relative to a frame or rails 14 and the fixed window panel 16between an opened position and a closed position (FIGS. 1-3). The railsinclude an upper rail 22 and a lower rail 24, with the upper and loweredge regions of the movable window panel 20 (FIG. 1) movably or slidablyreceived in and along the respective upper and lower rails 22, 24. Thewindow assembly 10 includes a perimeter seal 26 disposed at the fixedwindow panels and around window opening or aperture established betweenthe side panel portions of the fixed panel 16. When the movable windowpanel is closed, the perimeter seal 26 seals against a perimeter regionof the surface of the movable window panel that faces the fixed windowpanel. The perimeter seal comprises a continuous seal having cornerregions that include an integral sealing lip at the corner of at leastthe upper and lower ends of one of the vertical sealing portions (suchas at the latch side of the movable window panel), as discussed below.

In the illustrated embodiment, the window assembly comprises two fixedwindow panels or panel portions that are spaced apart so as to define anopening therebetween, with upper and lower appliqués or trim or fillerpanels or elements 19 a, 19 b disposed at the upper and lower regions ofthe opening and between the fixed window panels. Optionally, the windowassembly may comprise a hole-in-glass window configuration, where thesingle fixed glass panel has an aperture or hole or opening establishedtherethrough to define separate spaced apart fixed window panels orpanel portions. The window assembly may utilize aspects of the windowassemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,915,018 and/or 8,881,458,and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2003-0213179, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The perimeter sealmay utilize aspects of the sealing systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos.10,239,397; 9,475,364 and/or 9,242,533, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

The upper and lower rails 22, 24 may comprise any suitable channel orrail element configured to slidably receive an upper or lower edgeportion of the movable window panel. The movable window panel 20 ismovable along the lower rail 24 and the upper rail 22 of the frameportion 14 to open and close the aperture or opening, such as in amanner similar to known slider window assemblies. The movable windowpanel 20 may include or may be disposed at a lower carrier, which mayreceive the lower perimeter edge region of the slider window panel 20therein and is slidably or movably received in the channel portion ofthe lower rail 24 of frame portion 14. The rails and window assembly mayutilize aspects of the rails and window assemblies described in U.S.Pat. No. 10,023,026, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

The perimeter seal 26 comprises a continuous seal having a first sideleg or portion 28, an upper leg or portion 30, a second side leg orportion 32 and a lower leg or portion 34. Each of the sealing legs orportions 28, 30, 32, 34 has a respective elongated body portion or baseportion 28 a, 30 a, 32 a, 34 a that has an attachment surface or elementor portion 28 b, 30 b, 32 b, 34 b for attaching at the fixed windowpanel or panels and the rail attachment portions at the upper and lowerappliqués and around the opening. For example, the attachment elementmay comprise an adhesive strip established along the body portion of therespective sealing leg for adhesively attaching the perimeter seal 26 tothe fixed window panels around the opening (such as to portions of thefixed window panel that have a darkened or opaque ornon-light-transmissive coating established thereat). In the illustratedembodiment (and such as shown in FIGS. 7A-D), the base portions 28 a, 30a, 32 a, 34 a are formed with a recessed attachment surface 28 b, 30 b,32 b, 34 b that receives a bead of adhesive therein and that includesside walls the set the bond-line thickness of the adhesive at the glassor plastic surface at which the perimeter seal is attached. Theperimeter seal thus may be adhered or otherwise attached to the surfaceof the fixed window panel (with the adhesive strip attached at the backof the elongated body portion and having a removable film or cover thatis removed to expose the adhesive for attaching at the window panel)around the opening so as to circumscribe the opening or aperture (or,for two fixed window panel configurations, the perimeter seal may beadhered or otherwise attached to the surfaces of the fixed window panelsand to the upper and lower appliqués so as to circumscribe the opening).

Each of the legs or portions 28, 30, 32, 34 of the perimeter seal 26 hasa respective seal configuration comprising a respective sealing lip 28c, 30 c, 32 c, 34 c established along and formed or extruded with thebase portion 28 a, 30 a, 32 a, 34 a, as discussed in detail below. Also,each of the legs or seal portions 28, 30, 32, 34 has its end regionsjoined to adjacent end regions of adjacent ones of the other sealinglegs or portions via respective corner sealing elements 36, 37, 38, 39,as also discussed below.

The perimeter seal 26 is formed via a multi-shot molding process. Forexample, the perimeter seal may be formed via a two (or more) shotinjection molding process, which molds (such as via a plastic injectionmolding process) the base portions 28 a, 30 a, 32 a, 34 a during a firstmolding process or first shot, and which molds (such as via a plasticinjection molding process) the sealing lips 28 c, 30 c, 32 c, 34 c alongthe respective base portions during a second molding process or secondshot. For example, the base portions may be injection molded out of arigid polypropylene material or the like, and the sealing lips may beovermolded along the base portions using a soft rubber material (such asa thermoplastic elastomer or Santoprene rubber material or the like).Optionally, the base portion and/or the sealing lips may compriseextruded elements, with the corner sections overmolded to join theextruded elongated sealing elements together.

In the illustrated embodiment, the seal portions 28, 30, 32, 34 providea desired sealing lip configuration for their particular application orposition or orientation relative to the movable window panel. Forexample, the vertical seal portion 34 is at the side of the windowopening at which the movable window panel will slide along as it isopened and closed, and thus may have a sealing lip configuration (e.g.,a Y-shaped sealing lip configuration) that seals against the windowpanel as it is moved in either direction, while the other vertical sealportion 30 is at the opposite side of the window opening, where themovable window panel will be moved to when it is closed, and thus mayhave a sealing lip configuration that is configured for engagement withthe window panel during only small movement of the window panel, and theupper and lower seal portions 28, 32 are configured to seal against thesurface of the window panel as the window panel moves in a longitudinaldirection along the seal portions 28, 32.

The seal portion 34 may have a Y-shaped sealing lip configuration (asbest shown in FIG. 7D) having two flexible lips 34 c, 34 d that flex inopposite directions, while the seal portion 32 may have a double lipconfiguration (as best shown in FIG. 7B) having two flexible lips 32 c,32 d that flex or curve in the closing direction of the movable windowpanel so that the lips seal against the surface of the movable windowpanel as it is closed. The upper and lower seal portions 28, 32 comprisesingle lip seal configurations (as best shown in FIGS. 7A and 7C) havinga single flexible sealing lip 28 c, 32 c that flexes towards the openingand slidably engages the upper perimeter region of the surface of themovable window panel as the panel moves between its opened and closedpositions.

In the illustrated embodiment, and as best seen with reference to FIG.8, the upper sealing leg 28 and vertical sealing leg 30 are joined ormolded together. At the corner junction of the sealing legs 28 and 30(and similarly at the lower corner junction of sealing legs 30 and 32),a sealing tab or lip 36 is established so as to provide additionalsealing at the corner regions and at the glass surface of the fixedwindow panel 16. The sealing lip 36 extends from the inboard sealing lip30 c of the sealing leg 30 and partially along the upper sealing leg 28above the sealing lip 28 c and extends towards the glass surface of themovable glass window panel 16 when the seal 26 is attached at the windowpanels and appliqués. The sealing tab or lip 36 engages the glasssurface of the movable window panel 20 when the seal 26 is attached atthe fixed window panel 16 and the upper appliqué 19 a and when themovable window panel is closed. The sealing tab or lip 36 limits waterintrusion at the curved attachment area of the upper sealing leg 28 atthe upper rail 22.

Similarly, the lower sealing leg 32 and vertical sealing leg 30 arejoined or molded together at a lower corner region. At the cornerjunction of the sealing legs 32 and 30, a sealing lip 37 is establishedat the end regions of sealing legs 32, 30 so as to provide additionalsealing at the lower corner region and at the glass surface of themovable window panel 20 when the movable window panel is closed. Thesealing lip 37 extends from the lower end of the inboard sealing lip 30c of the sealing leg 30 and partially along the lower sealing leg 32below the sealing lip 32 c and extends towards the glass surface of themovable glass window panel 20 when the seal 26 is attached at the windowpanels and appliqués. The sealing lip 37 limits water intrusion at theattachment area of the lower sealing leg 32 at the lower rail 24.

The sealing lips 36, 37 are formed so that they curve away from the endof the respective upper or lower lip 28 c, 32 c and then curve along therespective upper or lower sealing leg 28, 32 and taper toward thesealing leg 28, 32. As can be seen with reference to FIG. 8, the upperlip 28 c (and similarly the lower lip 32 c) terminates such that thereis a gap between the end of the lip 28 c and the corner sealing lip 36(and similarly there is a gap between the end of the lip 32 c and thecorner sealing lip 37). The sealing lip 36 is thus not directlyconnected to or joined with the end of the upper sealing lip 28 c.However, a flexible joining element 36 a (such as, for example, abendable or accordion-type element) joins a portion of the cornersealing lip 36 to a portion of the upper lip 28 c. The seals andflexible joining elements are molded together in the respectiveinjection molding step or process.

Thus, the sealing lips 28 c, 30 c, 36 are joined but, when pressedagainst the glass, are allowed to flex in different directions due tothe gap between the seals and the accordion-type element. For example,when the seals are pressed against the glass, the upper horizontalsealing lip flexes downward and the vertical sealing lip flexes to theright, with the downward flexing of the upper sealing lip 28 c pullingat the corner sealing lip 36 (joined to the upper part of the verticalsealing lip 30 c) via the accordion-type element, and not pullingdirectly at the vertical sealing lip 30 c in a direction opposite thedirection that the vertical sealing lip 30 c flexes. This is animprovement because, if the sealing lips 28 c, 30 c are joined togetherat the corner, the seals pull at each other and limit the desiredflexing. With the gap at the corner (between the sealing lips) and theflexible joining element that joins the corner sealing lip with theupper or lower sealing lip), the vertical sealing lip 30 c can flex tothe right and the upper sealing lip 28 c can flex downward (andsimilarly the lower sealing lip 32 c can flex upward), without one ofthe seals limiting the flexing of the other seal and possibly causing anineffective seal against the glass at the corner regions.

Although shown and described as having the additional lip at the cornerjunctions of the double seal sealing leg 30 and the upper and lowersealing legs 28, 32, an additional sealing lip 38, 39 is also providedat the corner junctions of the Y-seal sealing leg 34 and the upper andlower sealing legs 28, 32. As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 4, 5and 7, the corner sealing lips 38, 39 join the ends of the inboardvertical lip 34 d of the Y-shaped sealing configuration and therespective end of the upper and lower sealing lips 28 c, 32 c so as toprovide a continuous seal against the glass at the corner regions of theperimeter seal.

Thus, the perimeter seal of the present invention may be formed toprovide a continuous perimeter seal about an opening of a rear sliderwindow assembly (or other type of window assembly). The sealing legs maycomprise extruded sealing elements that are extruded or otherwise formedof a flexible rubber material (or any suitable sealing material). Thecorners or junctions of the sealing legs may be molded or joinedtogether and an additional sealing lip may be provided or established atthe corner region (such as by overmolding the additional sealing lip(such as via injection molding or the like) as part of the sealing lipsat the end regions of the vertical sealing leg so as to limit waterintrusion at the corner regions. When formed in this manner, theperimeter seal comprises a unitary perimeter seal that may be attachedor adhered to the glass surface of the fixed window panel so that theperimeter seal provides a continuous sealing lip about its periphery andfully circumscribes the opening of the window with a continuous sealinglip. Thus, the present invention provides for enhanced sealing at thewindow seal with no gaps between sealing lips or elements arrangedaround the window opening.

The movable or slider window panel 20 is thus movable between its openedand closed positions and along the sealing elements, which maintainsealing engagement with the window panel as it moves along the rails 22,24 of the window assembly. The movable window panel may be movable viaany suitable means, such as via manual pushing or pulling at the windowpanel and/or in response to actuation of a drive motor of a drive motorassembly or system, which may move cables or wires of cable assembliesrelative to a sheath of the cable assemblies or the like to imparthorizontal movement of the slider window panel 20 along the rails 22,24. Optionally, the drive motor assembly may utilize aspects of thedrive assemblies of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,920,698;4,995,195; 5,146,712; 5,531,046; 5,572,376; 6,955,009 and/or 7,073,293,and/or U.S. Publication Nos. US-2004-0020131 and/or US-2008-0127563,which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

Although shown and described as a horizontally movable center windowthat moves relative to a pair of opposite side windows (such as forapplications at the rear of a cab of a pickup truck or the like), it isenvisioned that the present invention is applicable to other types ofmovable window assemblies, such as horizontally movable window panelsthat move relative to a single fixed window panel and/or frames (such asfor a rear or side opening of a vehicle or the like), and/or such asvertically movable window panels that move relative to one or more fixedpanels and/or frames (such as for a rear or side opening of a vehicle orthe like), while remaining within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

Optionally, the fixed window panel and movable window panel of thewindow assembly of the present invention may include one or moreelectrically conductive elements, such as heater grids or the like,which may be powered utilizing aspects of the window assembliesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,402,695 and/or 8,881,458, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The windowassembly may include a heater grid on each of the fixed window panelsand on the movable window panels, with a heating system that providespower to the heater grid on the movable window panel irrespective of theposition of the movable window panel relative to the fixed window paneland throughout the range of movement of the movable window panel betweenits opened and closed positions, such as by utilizing aspects of thewindow assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,402,695 and/or8,881,458, incorporated above.

Optionally, the window assembly or assemblies of the present inventionmay utilize aspects of the window assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos.8,915,018; 8,881,458; 8,402,695; 7,073,293; 7,003,916; 6,119,401;6,026,611; 5,996,284; 5,799,444 and/or 6,691,464, and/or U.S.Publication Nos. US-2014-0047772; US-2006-0107600; US-2008-0127563;US-2004-0020131 and/or US-2003-0213179, all of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

1. A vehicular slider window assembly, said vehicular slider windowassembly comprising: at least one fixed window panel, said at least onefixed window panel defining an opening; an upper rail and a lower railfixedly disposed at said at least one fixed window panel; a movablewindow panel that is movable along said upper rail and said lower rail,wherein said movable window panel is movable between a closed position,where said movable window panel is disposed at the opening, and anopened position, where said movable window panel is disposed at leastpartially along said at least one fixed window panel; a perimeter sealdisposed at a surface of said at least one fixed window panel, whereinsaid perimeter seal comprises a continuous sealing element thatcircumscribes the opening and that is configured to seal against asurface of said movable window panel about a periphery of said movablewindow panel when said movable window panel is in the closed position;wherein said perimeter seal comprises a plurality of elongated sealingportion including an elongated upper sealing portion, an elongated lowersealing portion, a first elongated side sealing portion and a secondelongated side sealing portion, and wherein said elongated sealingportions comprise respective elongated sealing lips disposed alongrespective base portions; wherein said perimeter seal is formed via amulti-shot injection molding process, and wherein said base portions areformed via a first shot injection molding process and said sealing lipsare formed along said base portions via a second shot injection moldingprocess; and wherein the first shot injection molding process forms saidbase portions using a polypropylene material, and wherein the secondshot injection molding process forms said sealing lips using athermoplastic elastomer.
 2. The vehicular slider window assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the second shot injection molding process forms acorner sealing element that joins adjacent ends of said sealing lips atcorner regions of said perimeter seal.
 3. The vehicular slider windowassembly of claim 2, wherein one of said corner sealing elements extendsfrom an end of said sealing lip of said first elongated side sealingportion and is spaced from an end of said sealing lip of said elongatedupper sealing portion, and wherein said one of said corner sealingelements extends partially along said elongated upper sealing portionabove said sealing lip of said elongated upper sealing portion.
 4. Thevehicular slider window assembly of claim 3, wherein said perimeter sealcomprise a flexible element that connects between said one of saidcorner sealing elements and said sealing lip of said elongated uppersealing portion to allow for flexing of said sealing lip of saidelongated upper sealing portion without restricting flexing of saidsealing lip of said first elongated side sealing portion.
 5. Thevehicular slider window assembly of claim 4, wherein said sealing lip ofsaid first elongated side sealing portion comprises a double lipconfiguration, and wherein said one of said corner sealing elementsextends from an inboard lip of said double lip configuration of saidfirst elongated side sealing portion.
 6. The vehicular slider windowassembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one fixed window panelcomprises first and second fixed window panels defining the openingtherebetween.
 7. The vehicular slider window assembly of claim 6,wherein said perimeter seal is adhesively attached at respectivesurfaces of said first and second fixed window panels and at respectivesurfaces of upper and lower appliqués so as to be attached around theopening.
 8. The vehicular slider window assembly of claim 7, whereinsaid upper rail comprises a rail attachment portion that attaches atsaid at least one fixed window panel and at an upper appliqué, andwherein said perimeter seal is adhesively attached at respectivesurfaces of said first and second fixed window panels and at said railattachment portion at said upper appliqué.
 9. The vehicular sliderwindow assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one fixed window panelcomprises a single fixed window panel having the opening therethrough,and wherein said perimeter seal is adhesively attached at a surface ofsaid single fixed window panel around the opening.
 10. A vehicularslider window assembly, said vehicular slider window assemblycomprising: at least one fixed window panel, said at least one fixedwindow panel defining an opening; an upper rail and a lower rail fixedlydisposed at said at least one fixed window panel; a movable window panelthat is movable along said upper rail and said lower rail, wherein saidmovable window panel is movable between a closed position, where saidmovable window panel is disposed at the opening, and an opened position,where said movable window panel is disposed at least partially alongsaid at least one fixed window panel; a perimeter seal disposed at asurface of said at least one fixed window panel, wherein said perimeterseal comprises a continuous sealing element that circumscribes theopening and that is configured to seal against a surface of said movablewindow panel about a periphery of said movable window panel when saidmovable window panel is in the closed position; wherein said perimeterseal comprises a plurality of elongated sealing portion including anelongated upper sealing portion, an elongated lower sealing portion, afirst elongated side sealing portion and a second elongated side sealingportion, and wherein said elongated sealing portions comprise respectiveelongated sealing lips disposed along respective base portions; a cornersealing element disposed at a corner region of said perimeter seal at ajunction of said elongated upper sealing portion and first elongatedside sealing portion; wherein said corner sealing element extends froman end of said sealing lip of said first elongated side sealing portionand is spaced from an end of said sealing lip of said elongated uppersealing portion, and wherein said corner sealing element extendspartially along said elongated upper sealing portion above said sealinglip of said elongated upper sealing portion; and wherein said perimeterseal comprise a flexible element that connects between said cornersealing element and said sealing lip of said elongated upper sealingportion to allow for flexing of said sealing lip of said elongated uppersealing portion without restricting flexing of said sealing lip of saidfirst elongated side sealing portion.
 11. The vehicular slider windowassembly of claim 10, wherein said sealing lip of said first elongatedside sealing portion comprises a double lip configuration, and whereinsaid corner sealing element extends from an inboard lip of said doublelip configuration of said first elongated side sealing portion.
 12. Thevehicular slider window assembly of claim 10, wherein said perimeterseal comprises another corner sealing element and another flexibleelement at another corner region at the junction of said elongated lowersealing portion and said second elongated side sealing portion.
 13. Thevehicular slider window assembly of claim 10, wherein said at least onefixed window panel comprises first and second fixed window panelsdefining the opening therebetween.
 14. The vehicular slider windowassembly of claim 13, wherein said perimeter seal is adhesively attachedat respective surfaces of said first and second fixed window panels andat respective surfaces of upper and lower appliqués so as to be attachedaround the opening.
 15. The vehicular slider window assembly of claim10, wherein said at least one fixed window panel comprises a singlefixed window panel having the opening therethrough, and wherein saidperimeter seal is adhesively attached at a surface of said single fixedwindow panel around the opening.
 16. A method of manufacturing avehicular slider window assembly, the method comprising: providing atleast one fixed window panel, the at least one fixed window paneldefining an opening; attaching an upper rail and a lower rail at the atleast one fixed window panel; movably disposing a movable window panelat the upper rail and the lower rail, wherein the movable window panelis movable between a closed position, where the movable window panel isdisposed at the opening, and an opened position, where the movablewindow panel is disposed at least partially along the at least one fixedwindow panel; providing a perimeter seal; wherein providing theperimeter seal comprises forming elongated sealing portions thatcomprise an elongated upper sealing portion, an elongated lower sealingportion, a first elongated side sealing portion and a second elongatedside sealing portion; wherein forming the elongated sealing portionscomprises forming base portions of the respective elongated sealingportions via a first shot injection molding process using apolypropylene material and forming elongated sealing lips along therespective base portions via a second shot injection molding processusing a thermoplastic elastomer; wherein providing the perimeter sealcomprises joining the elongated sealing portions at adjacent ends ofadjacent elongated sealing portions to form a continuous sealingelement; and adhesively attaching the perimeter seal at a surface of theat least one fixed window panel so as to circumscribe the opening and toseal against a surface of the movable window panel about a periphery ofthe movable window panel when the movable window panel is in the closedposition.
 17. The method of claim 16, comprising forming a cornersealing element that joins adjacent ends of the sealing lips at cornerregions of the perimeter seal via the second shot injection moldingprocess.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein one of the corner sealingelements extends from an end of the sealing lip of the first elongatedside sealing portion and is spaced from an end of the sealing lip of theelongated upper sealing portion, and wherein the one of the cornersealing elements extends partially along the elongated upper sealingportion above the sealing lip of the elongated upper sealing portion.19. The method of claim 18, wherein the perimeter seal comprise aflexible element that connects between the one of the corner sealingelements and the sealing lip of the elongated upper sealing portion toallow for flexing of the sealing lip of the elongated upper sealingportion without restricting flexing of the sealing lip of the firstelongated side sealing portion.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein thesealing lip of the first elongated side sealing portion comprises adouble lip configuration, and wherein the one of the corner sealingelements extends from an inboard lip of the double lip configuration ofthe first elongated side sealing portion.